Ricciardo Wins at Monza in McLaren One-two Finish

Italy F1 GP Auto Racing Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.12, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni)
Italy F1 GP Auto Racing Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.12, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni)
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Ricciardo Wins at Monza in McLaren One-two Finish

Italy F1 GP Auto Racing Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.12, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni)
Italy F1 GP Auto Racing Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, at Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.12, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni)

Australian Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix in a stunning McLaren one-two with Lando Norris at Monza on Sunday while Formula One title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton took each other out of the race.

The victory was McLaren's first since 2012 and Ricciardo's first since he was at Red Bull in 2018.

"About time," smiled the happy Australian.

"To lead literally from start to finish, I don't think any of us expected that.

"To not only win but to get a one-two, it's insane. For McLaren to be on the podium is huge."

Ricciardo, now an eight times grand prix winner, had started on the front row and seized the lead from Verstappen at the start and he completed his day with a bonus point for fastest lap right at the end.

Valtteri Bottas was third for Mercedes after winning the Saturday sprint race and then starting at the back of the grid due to engine penalties.

While McLaren celebrated, Verstappen and Hamilton had nothing to smile about.

The pair collided and crashed out after their pitstops, with Verstappen's Red Bull lifting off the kerb and ending up on top of Hamilton's Mercedes in the gravel, with the halo head protection device keeping the champion out of harm's way.

Both climbed out after the accident at the first chicane, with Verstappen's five-point lead in the championship unchanged.

"That's what happens when you don't give space," said Verstappen on the team radio.



Alcaraz Opens Wimbledon with Straight-set Win, Sabalenka and Azarenka Withdraw with Injuries

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Alcaraz Opens Wimbledon with Straight-set Win, Sabalenka and Azarenka Withdraw with Injuries

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Estonia's Mark Lajal during their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had goosebumps walking onto Centre Court before his opening match at Wimbledon on Monday, a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-2 win over qualifier Mark Lajal.
Lajal proved to be something of a speedbump for Alcaraz, who acknowledged that his 269th-ranked Estonian opponent “surprised me a little bit" on Day 1 at the All England Club.
Alcaraz, who won his third major championship at the French Open three weeks ago, defeated Novak Djokovic in last year’s final on the grass at Wimbledon but said he was still nervous before Monday's match.
“When I walk into the court, I got goosebumps. I remembered last year. It was a great feeling," the 21-year-old Spaniard said in his on-court interview. “But I try not to think about it. It’s a new year — totally different tournament. I have to be focused on my game just to play at the same level as last year if I want to repeat the same (success) as last year."
Earlier, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka both pulled out of the tournament because of respective shoulder injuries.
Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, said she was “heartbroken” to announce her withdrawal after it became clear in a practice session that she wasn't ready.
The No. 3 seed was seen as top contender at the All England Club, which has had seven different women win the title in the last seven years.
Azarenka is also a two-time champion at Melbourne Park.
Ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari was among the early winners on Monday, and said after beating McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-1 that the women's draw is wide open.
“We could name like 20, 25 girls that could win the tournament right now,” Sakkari said.
Seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini, the French Open runner-up last month, got past the first round at Wimbledon for the first time on her fourth try. The Italian beat Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5, 6-3.
On the men's side, fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev beat Aleksander Kovacevic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, and eighth-seeded Casper Ruud defeated Alex Bolt 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4. Unseeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov eliminated No. 19 Nicolas Jarry 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.